The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. The ATSB is Australia's prime agency for the independent investigation of civil aviation, rail and maritime accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

Nose landing gear residual stress and hydrogen embrittlement

Safety issue description

Fatigue cracking originated within the aircraft nose landing gear (NLG) right axle as the result of surface damage associated with grinding during manufacture, and was probably assisted in its initiation by hydrogen evolved during plating processes.

Proactive Action

Action organisation:

Boeing Co

Action number:

AO-2009-047-NSA-028

Date:

30 July 2010

Action status:

Closed

As a result of their own internal and ongoing investigations into the axle failure, the aircraft manufacturer was working with the landing gear supplier to determine the extent of the problem. The aircraft manufacturer also released a communication to designated 737 stakeholders informing of three (including the subject) recent NLG inner cylinder fractures and their likely origin being related to grinding operations. To reduce the likelihood of future possible NLG axle failures, the manufacturer recommended that inspections for thermal damage be undertaken during overhaul of the NLG inner cylinder. This was to be achieved by Nital etch inspection after stripping the plating from the bearing journals, or by Barkhausen inspection in lieu of stripping the chrome plate.

ATSB response:

The ATSB is satisfied that the action taken by the aircraft manufacturer adequately addresses the safety issue.

Proactive Action

Action organisation:

Virgin Blue Airlines

Action number:

AO-2009-047-NSA-029

Date:

30 July 2010

Action status:

Closed

Immediately following the occurrence, the aircraft operator conducted a detailed visual and non-destructive inspection of all axles in their 737 fleet with similar service history. Particular attention was paid to the area underneath the bearing spacer. No defect indications were found.

Current issue status:

Adequately addressed

Status justification:

For the reasons given above. The source of the issue was found and the axles in the fleet were inspected.